Status:
Mentor:
Dr. Adriel BoalsResearch Topic:
Making a Biased Jury Decision: Psychosocial Influences in the Steven Avery Murder CaseAbstract:
The Netflix documentary “Making a Murderer” chronicled the conflict between Steven Avery and the Manitowoc County legal system. After spending 18 years in prison for a wrongful conviction, Avery was arrested and found guilty of murder, but the evidence was questionable. This case was used to evaluate variables that may influence decisions of a defendant’s guilt. Participants (N = 905) completed an online survey containing questionnaires related to perception and psychosocial characteristics. Results indicated a majority of participants rated Avery as innocent. The results support prior research that psychological and demographic variables may influence judgements of guilt in murder trials.Alma Mater:
B.A. Psychology | University of North Texas 2017